Fifteen Minutes a Day
January February March April May June July August September October November December
December 1
Offhand we say a skeptic is one who doubts everything. But does he? And are his doubts caused by too much learning, or too little? Berkeley presents both sides of skepticism.
Read: Berkeley's THREE DIALOGUES Vol. 37, pp. 189-199 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Sense · Quality · Pleasure and Pain · Matter
December 2
Attacked in fun by two masked knights, Sir Galahad smote one so that both horse and rider went down. Turning on the other jester, he slashed open his helmet.
Read: THE HOLY GRAIL Vol. 35, pp. 128-134 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Sin · Chivalry · Religion · Honor
December 3
After three awesome messengers have issued three warnings, the gods of ten thousand worlds decide who is to be the new Buddha. Then the parents, the conception, the birth of the god-child demand constant vigilance.
Read: THE BIRTH OF THE BUDDHA Vol. 45, pp. 603-612 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Family · Angel · Time · Prophecy
December 4
fEneas and Dido, world-famous lovers, while hunting in the forest, were trapped in a cave by a furious storm. There the marriage between the proud African queen and the homeless wanderer was completed.
Read: Virgil's AENEID Vol. 13, pp. 152-162 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Love · Emotion · Fate · Hospitality
December 5
(Christina Georgina Rossetti born Dec. 5, 18 30.)
So beautiful that many painters sought her for a model— Christina Rossetti, sister of the famous poet, Dante Rossetti, combined with her unusual beauty a rare poetic sense.
Read: CHRISTINA ROSSETTI'S POEMS Vol. 42, pp. 1181-1183 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Love · Life and Death · Memory and Imagination · Emotion
December 6
(Last issue of “The Spectator” published Dec. 6, 1712.)
“The Vision of Mirza” and “Westminster Abbey,” first printed in “The Spectator,” are examples of Addison’s wondrous gift of expression. He leads us to higher realms.
Read: Addison's ESSAYS Vol. 27, pp. 73-80 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Life and Death · Immortality · Man · Eternity
December 7
(Cicero slain by Mark Antony’s soldiers, Dec. 7, 43 B. C.)
After being governor of Sicily, Cicero returned to Rome expecting a hero’s welcome. When he asked what the Romans thought of his recent achievements, he received an astounding answer.
Read: Plutarch's CICERO Vol. 12, pp. 222-231 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Revolution · Justice · Rhetoric · Government
December 8
(Thomas De Quincy died Dec. 8, 1859.)
De Quincy imagined that three women were sent to him so that he might know the depths of his soul. Real women could not have wielded greater influence. It is fortunate that everyone does not meet these weird women.
Read: LEVANA AND OUR LADIES OF SORROW Vol. 27, pp. 319-325 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Emotion · The Sublime · God · Sign and Symbol
December 9
By the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 stringent laws were made to prevent assistance being given to any slaves attempting to escape. The antislavery answer to these laws was a perfection of the “Underground Railroad.”
Read: THE FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT Vol. 43, pp. 306-312 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Slavery · Law · Government · Punishment
December 10
Taking offense at a soldier who made advances toward his favorite lady, Cellini jumped from the window, knife in hand, to avenge himself. This incident was recorded with characteristic conceit by Cellini in his amazing diary.
Read: CELLINI'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY Vol. 31, pp. 62-72 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: War and Peace · Honor · Emotion · Medicine
December 11
The handsome Alcibiades, cunning in politics, bold in war, was the lion of Athenian society until he violated the secrets of a mysterious religious cult. Then all outraged Athens united to dash their idol to the ground.
Read: Plutarch's ALCIBIADES Vol. 12, pp. 106-117 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Honor · Education · Beauty · Family
December 12
(Robert Browning died Dec. 12, 1889.)
Three brave men began the heroic ride from Ghent to Aix. Only one man arrived to tell the thrilling story of the tempestuous ride. In one of his most bewitching poems, in lines that haunt the memory, Browning retells the story.
Read: BROWNING'S POEMS Vol. 42, pp. 1066-1068 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Honor · Animal · Courage · Virtue and Vice
December 13
(Sir Francis Drake embarked for South Seas, Dec. 13, 1577-)
A famous voyage was Sir Francis Drake’s around the world. Drake’s crew, the first white men to visit many parts of the world, received amazing receptions from the natives.
Read: DRAKE'S VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD Vol. 33, pp. 199-208 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Exploration · Nature · War and Peace · Chance
December 14
(Marvell entered Cambridge, Dec. 14, 1633.)
The many-sided Marvell, who wielded a pen that was both feared and courted, is seen at his best in stirring verse. “A Garden,” “Prospect of Flowers,” with the “Horatian Ode upon Cromwell,” show the power of his genius.
Read: MARVELL'S POEMS Vol. 40, pp. 370-379 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Nature · War and Peace · Love · Beauty
December 15
This is another of those marvelous and unforgetable tales of the wandering Odysseus. The fantasy takes him into regions where he discourses with deceased heroes.
Read: Homer's ODYSSEY Vol. 22, pp. 145-153 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Family · Life and Death · Religion · Immortality
December 16
Beauty is an important factor in the attraction between man and woman. It is knowing beauty that differentiates man from the animals, which only require that their mates be of the same species.
Read: Burke's THE SUBLIME AND BEAUTIFUL Vol. 24, pp. 37-48 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Emotion · The Sublime · Poetry · Pleasure and Pain
December 17
The mother of St. Augustine prayed unceasingly for her son’s conversion. The most touching, most soul-revealing writing St. Augustine did is in the description of his mother’s death.
Read: CONFESSIONS OF ST. AUGUSTINE Vol. 7, pp. 150-160 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Family · Religion · Emotion · God
December 18
Every schoolboy asks: “What’s the use of learning Latin?” John Locke, one of the greatest educators of all time, maintains that Latin is absolutely essential to a well-bred gentleman, and explains why.
Read: SOME THOUGHTS CONCERNING EDUCATION Vol. 37, pp. 136-145 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Education · Language · Emotion · Habit
December 19
(Milton released from prison, Dec. 19, 1660.)
The mighty Samson was blinded while a captive of the Philistines. He sought revenge—a revenge devastating and costly. Milton, himself a giant of intellect, blind and imprisoned, wrote of this sightless giant of other days.
Read: Milton's SAMSON AGONISTES Vol. 4, pp. 444-459 read · scan
December 20
All phases of life were pictured by Herodotus in his history. Like a modern newspaper reporter, he combines weird stories, scandals, and battle accounts with descriptions of places, persons, and sights about town.
Read: Herodotus' AN ACCOUNT OF EGYPT Vol. 33, pp. 7-17 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Reasoning · Nature · Cause · Hypothesis
December 21
(John Bunyan made leader of Non-Conformist congregation, Dec. 21, 1671.)
“Madam Bubble,” or this vain world, presented both herself and her purse to the wayfarer. Repulsed and scorned, yet she serenely flaunts her bribes enticingly before his bewildered eyes.
Read: Bunyan's PILGRIM'S PROGRESS Vol. 15, pp. 306-318 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Life and Death · Religion · Immortality · Emotion
December 22
(Darwin visits New Zealand natives, Dec. 22, 1835.)
Darwin, in exploring New Zealand, finds cannibalism, tattooing, and many weird customs among the natives. Instead of shaking hands, the salutation is by rubbing noses.
Read: Darwin's VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE Vol. 29, pp. 425-434 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Custom and Convention · Religion · National Character · Slavery
December 23
(Sainte-Beuve born Dec. 23, 1804.)
If all the books in the world were on fire, some men would risk their lives to save certain priceless writings: the world’s classics. Sainte-Beuve here tells why.
Read: Sainte-Beuve's WHAT IS A CLASSIC? Vol. 32, pp. 121-133 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Poetry · Definition · Beauty · History
December 24
Before the Reformation in England almost every third day was a holy day. But the Puritans abolished all the holy days, even Christmas.
Read: HOLINSHED'S CHRONICLES Vol. 35, pp. 266-270 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Religion · Wealth · Education · Patronage
December 25
(Christmas Day.)
Luke was a Greek physician, a man of culture, trained in the best universities of the ancient world. He became imbued with the spirit of Christ, and wrote the most beautiful story of the birth and life of Jesus.
Read: GOSPEL OF ST. LUKE Vol. 44, pp. 357-360 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Religion · Family · Prophecy · Miracles
December 26
(“King Lear’ presented at Queen Elizabeth’s court, Dec. 26, 1606.)
Cordelia, daughter of old King Lear, could not convince her father of her love for him. Afterward, when misfortunes made him accept her aid, he learned too late of her real devotion.
Read: Shakespeare's KING LEAR Vol. 46, pp. 288-300 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Family · Madness · Emotion · Desire
December 27
(Charles Darwin begins voyage in the “Beagle,’ Dec. 27, 1831.)
It was the new-old lands that Darwin visited on his voyage of the “Beagle.” The strange specimens of prehistoric life he saw there made the world gape and shudder.
Read: Darwin's VOYAGE OF THE BEAGLE Vol. 29, pp. 376-389 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Animal · Nature · Evolution · Geology
December 28
Drake with a fleet of twenty-five ships and twenty-three hundred men sets sail to plunder and lay waste Spain’s treasure hoards in the New World. Gold and silver bar, nuggets and jewels awaited the bold adventurers. ,
Read: DRAKE'S GREAT ARMADA Vol. 33, pp. 229-240 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: War and Peace · Wealth · Government · Custom and Convention
December 29
After twenty years’ absence, Odysseus returned home to find his house filled with strangers rioting and wasting his treasure. Crafty Odysseus, with the aid of his son and the gods, devised a bold plan to rid his home of the unwelcome guests.
Read: Homer's ODYSSEY Vol. 22, pp. 296-309 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: War and Peace · Punishment · God · Justice
December 30
Dana’s description of the picturesque, pre-gold-rush California is unique. While he was on the Pacific coast he met a British sailor who was elaborately tattooed and of an unforgetable appearance and personality.
Read: Dana's TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MAST Vol. 23, pp. 77-86 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: Custom and Convention · Wealth · Language · Religion
December 31
The most unhappy man, Carlyle says, is the man who has no real work—no interest in life. To avoid this miserable state, he advises faithful and diligent reading along the lines dictated by curiosity and interest.
Read: Carlyle's INAUGURAL ADDRESS Vol. 25, pp. 364-374 read · scan
Great Ideas in these pages: History · Education · Religion · Race and Nationality
January February March April May June July August September October November December